The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-05-28

Progress of Revenue Reform.
1t is significant that the moneyed
men of the country, the bankers,
bondholders and capitalists, are
beginning to concern themselves
very anxiously as to the reduction
of the surplus. When the great
struggle for the abolition of ex-
cessive taxation first began, it was
antagonized almost without excep-
ton by the real financial corpora
tons and magnates. The conduct
of that gallant and patriotic fight
was relegated to a few devoted en-
thusiasts in Congress, to whom
their opponents contemptuously
referred to as free traders, fanat-
les, ETC., etc.
But the movement assumed def
mite form. It gathered strength
and gained accessions. u Year after
year, although thwarted at the
preceding session by combination
of the Republicans with the Randall
Democrats, these undaunted men
returned to the charge, stronger,
more confident and more resolute
after each encounter, and steadily
drawing nearer to victory. In 1884
the party leaders ceased to deny or
belittle the danger involved In q
perpetuation of oppressive and un-
necessary taxes, and In fact pro-
claimed the purpose Of the Dem
ocracy to avert that danger by
summary and radical expedients.
This declaration entered into the
platform of that year. It consti-
tuted part, and large part, of
the pledge upon the faith of which
the country voted the Democratic
party into power, and it still re-
mains sacred compact between
that party and the peoples COM
pact thus far unfulflled.
Now, however, the gravity Of the
question is receiving wider and
more serious recognition. The
accumulation of surplus in the
treasury is no longer one Of those
distant evils visible only to the
inspired ken of seers; it is present,
it is imminent, and its forbidding
shadow falls upon and ohills such
tremendous interests as to quicken
the pulse of every intelligent OBJ
server. Since the adjournment of
the last Congress, in both sessions
of which the handful of Demo-
cratic renegades led by Mr.. Randall
helped the Republicans to discredit
their party before the country,
thoughtful men in every walk of
life have begun to realize that
crisis of mysterious import and
incalculable outcome is involved in
the continued withdrawal from cir
culation of vast sums wrung from
the people by needless taxation
and boarded in the treasury in
excess of any legitimate demand
and beyond the reach of useful
employment.
Solicitude is no longer confined
to the so-called free trade agitators,
bankers, capitalists, financiers, all
are asking themselves how this is
to end and what can be done to
arrest the peril. The very men
who were once securely counted
upon to give character and sub
stance to the opposition have now
become the coadjutors of the reve-
nue. reform leaders to the extent of
admitting that there is grave peril
In the situation, and that some
remedy for it must be devised.
Indeed, the Democratic party must
inevitably come to be the party of
the solid interests of the country,
for it is the only party that has
had the wisdom to perceive the
danger and the courage to confront
it. A great change is taking place
In public opinion lin intelligent
public opinion. In this struggle
for q reduction of taxation the
Democratic party is drawing to
itself all that is substantial and
influential in the ranks of it's oppo-
nents. New York Star.